Two Indians nabbed for assault, extortion of compatriot

Sumit Kayan and Rahul Wadhawah are brought in to face charges for allegedly beating and extorting a countryman.

Two Indian men have been arrested for allegedly beating and extorting a countryman.

Sumit Kayan, 26, and Rahul Wadhawah, 32, were apprehended June 3, hours after the alleged assault at a hotel on Thappraya Soi 12. Seized from them were three checks signed by victim Anirban Ghosh and his credit card.

Ghosh, 40, told police he was hired by the pair to come to Thailand to do photography work to promote a tour company in India on the promise that travel and other expenses fronted by Kayan would be reimbursed once Ghosh’s sponsors paid him.

However, Ghosh failed to produce the funds to repay Kayan, who allegedly had Wadhawah hold him hostage in the hotel room around 2 a.m., assault and strip him naked before taking photographs. The pair then threatened to publish the photos online unless Ghosh paid them and had his family wire more money from India, police said.

Ghosh signed three checks totaling 300,000 baht, but managed to send a text message to a Thai friend seeking help and Wadhawah fled the scene. Police tracked down the two suspects later that day.